Sutherland Shire Sydney Pest Control

Cockroaches	Spiders	Rodents	Ants	Silverfish
Carpet Beetles	Wasps	Bees	Fleas

Cockroaches

Cockroaches are primitive insects whose origin extends back at least 300 million years and are thought to have originated in the tropical and sub-tropical areas of Africa. The advent of travel and international trade has brought about the spread of cockroaches to most countries in the world.

Although worldwide, there are over 3,000 species of cockroaches, only half a dozen have attained the status of pest species by adapting themselves to cohabit with man in his dwelling. The remaining non-pest species inhabit decaying plant material, dark damp areas such as caves, and beneath the bark of rotting trees.

The omnivorous appetite of cockroaches makes any unprotected foodstuffs susceptible to cockroach infestation and contamination. Their indiscriminate feeding sources in such areas as sewers, drains and garbage areas bring them in contact with disease organisms including salmonella and other organisms associated with dysentery, typhoid, hepatitis and tuberculosis.

Cockroaches are nocturnal creatures and are seldom seen in any quantity during daylight hours, however, in areas where there are heavy infestations, sightings of cockroaches may become more common. It is generally accepted that for every cockroach seen there are at least a further ten that are hidden away in out of sight harbourages. Common harbourage areas include cracks and crevices, dishwashers, electrical motors and switches, ovens and almost any warm, moist areas where food is available.

Tell tale signs indicating cockroach activity include the presence of egg cases, regurgitation marks, faecal pellets, odour and cast-off nymphal skins.

Infestation occurs when cockroaches are carried into premises on raw materials or packaging or gain entry to the premises through drain covers, ventilation openings and under doors.

Most common species have wings, but have a tendency to crawl rather than fly. When disturbed, cockroaches have the ability to scurry away with remarkable haste.

Cockroach Control

Successful cockroach control is based on Integrated Pest Management (IPM) starting with a thorough inspection of the entire premises to identify the species and to define the extent and source of infestation. Observations made during the inspection enable a program to be proposed which considers all possible facets of control procedures including proofing, trapping, sanitation, hygiene and the judicious use of preparations. Recent preparations developed for cockroach control are of low mammalian toxicity and do not persist in the environment. A new group of preparations called insect growth regulators are being presently used by the industry. These compounds prevent the immature stage of the insect from achieving adulthood and so prevent propagation of the species. The advantage of such formulations is that they are usually specific to a particular pest and have little effect against non-target species.

Spiders

Black House Spiders

Black house spiders are the most common spider we treat that are dark brown or black in colour, with a charcoal-grey abdomen and a white pattern on their back. Females are about twice the size of males, ranging from 9–18 mm in size.

Black house spiders prefer dry habitats and build their webs in trees, rocks, and around buildings. They are often found in window corners, gutters, and cracks in walls.

Red Back Spiders

The adult female red back is about 2-3 cm long, quite black, with a distinctive red stripe on its abdomen. The

male is much smaller and considered harmless. Neither are aggressive.

Sydney Funnel Web

It is a large (6-7 cm), black, aggressive, ugly looking spider with massive fangs. These are large and powerful enough to easily penetrate a fingernail. When disturbed it tends to rear up on its hind legs, a defensive posture that exposes the fangs. They don't jump.

White Tailed Spiders

The white tailed spider has been found in Australia for many years. The spider is easily identified by its elongated shape (1-2.5cm body length), cylindrical lemon tip shaped abdomen and is velvety black with dirty white markings at the top of the abdomen and on the tip of the tail. The legs are glossy with a dark reddish tint. Male spiders have striped legs.

Rodents

The three major pest species of rodents are the Norway Rat, Roof Rat, and the House Mouse. These three rodents are known as commercial pests, which describes their ability to successfully cohabit with man. They are common in the main population centers in Australia and most countries throughout the world. Since early times, rodents have been responsible for the loss and contamination of feed from the crop stage through to the storage of processed food in both domestic and commercial premises. Rodents have been associated with the transmission of disease organisms, the most notable being the occurrence of Bubonic Plague in Europe, causing the loss of 25 million lives.

As climatic conditions become less favourable during the onset of winter months, rodents move indoors looking for both shelter and food, however, in commercial premises rodents can be a problem all year round.

Rodents construct their nests utilising soft materials, such as shredded paper or fabrics, close to areas where they scavenge for food and water. These nests are usually situated in wall cavities, roof voids or underfloor areas, and in the case of Norway Rats, in burrows in garbage tips, and other similar sites.

Rodents actively forage for food at night using the same routes of movement to and from the food sources. Their diet includes food material of both animal and plant origin and apart from mice, access to water is necessary. Mice can obtain water from foodstuffs providing the food is sufficiently moist.

Rodent Control

As with all pest management programs, an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach is an integral part of successful rodent control. IPM involves consideration of all control procedures including attention to sanitation and hygiene, trapping, proofing of entry points, and the use of baiting procedures. All control procedures are preceded by a thorough inspection of the entire premises to identify the rodent and to define the extent of infestation.

Ants

Ants belong to the family Formicidae, which forms part of the order Hymenoptera. This order of insects also includes bees and wasps.

Ants are ubiquitous. In fact around 15 000 species and subspecies of ants have been described world wide, with just over 1 300 known from Australia so far. Most Australians are familiar with ants be they:

bulldog or bull ants ( Myrmecia sp.)
jack-jumper or jumper ants ( Myrmecia pilosula species group)
green-headed or metallic pony ants ( Rhytidoponera metallica)
meat ants ( Iridomyrmex sp.)
sugar ants ( Camponotus sp.)
green tree ants ( Oecophylla smaragdina).

Ants are found in all Australian States and Territories and in all terrestrial habitats. While numerous species live in bushland and rainforests, fewer are found in suburban gardens and buildings.

Ant Control

Treatment by Shire Pest Control technicians to control ants is determined by the species. This treatment can either be a with e nvironmentally friendly and sustainable insecticidal spray or a granular insect growth regulator bait.

Silverfish

Silverfish (Ctenolepisma longicaudata) are wingless, primitive insects and can be easily identified by the three long appendages protruding from the rear of the abdomen. They have a fish-like appearance with the body tapering to the rear and are covered in scales, giving them a dull silvery colouration.

The female adult lays eggs either singly or in small batches, which usually hatch after a period of 2-8 weeks into nymphs which closely resemble the shape of the adult but are smaller in size. The nymphs undergo a series of moults over a period of 3-24 months, becoming sexually mature adults. They are one of the few insects to continue moulting after they have achieved adulthood and can go on to live for a period of up to 4 years.

Silverfish can move extremely quickly when disturbed and in general have a tendency to avoid light. They are usually found in dark undisturbed areas, however they often range throughout a building particularly in cupboards, stored paper and bookshelves, and behind wallpaper that has peeled away from the wall surface. Silverfish cannot climb smooth surfaces and so are often found trapped in glasses, baths and basins. Silverfish do not carry disease organisms harmful to man or domestic animals.

Silverfish Control

Control of silverfish is normally achieved by the storage of books, paper and linen fabrics in well lit and ventilated areas. Chemical control consists of the careful application of residual surface sprays and the judicious use of space sprays.

Carpet Beetles

The most common carpet beetles to be found attacking various fabrics of animal origin are the black carpet beetle (Attagenus unicolor) and the variegated carpet beetle (Anthrenus verbasci).

As well as carpets, they can be found in woollen goods, fur, silk, upholstery and stuffed animals.

An infestation of carpet beetles usually occurs in undisturbed areas, such as below items of heavy furniture or perimeter areas of the carpet. It is possible for the carpet beetles to attack synthetic carpets, particularly if they are heavily soiled with organic food debris or urine. Many synthetic and woollen carpets are now treated with insecticides at the manufacturing stage rendering them resistant to carpet beetle attacks.

The adult female beetle lays her eggs in dark undisturbed areas. The eggs hatch into reddy-brown coloured larvae or grubs covered with tufted hairs. It is this larval stage that causes the damage to fabrics, rugs, underfelts and carpets. When they are fully fed the larvae change into an immobile pupal stage which, after several weeks, turn into adult beetles. The adult beetles usually fly to exterior areas where they are often attracted to white flowers. The adult beetles cause no further damage but often further infest dwellings by their presence in birds' nests or being introduced to the interior of dwellings on cut flowers.

Carpet Beetle Control

Control of carpet beetle is usually achieved by attention to thorough vacuuming of the infested areas followed by the application of residual insecticide sprays.

Wasps

There are thousands of species of native wasps in Australia, and they play a critical role in the environment. Unfortunately, the most troublesome introduced species of wasps are the Paper Wasp and the European Wasps which we commonly treat.

Wasp Control

Treatment by Shire Pest Control technicians to remove the Paper or European wasps is with environmentally friendly and sustainable insecticidal spray direct to the colony and/or use of an aerosol wasp spray.

Bees

These insects form an important part in the environment as, key pollinator's of many native plant species, producers of honey and wax. Like other insects there are many species of bees with the most commonly associated being the Honey Bee.

Our main goal is to safely preserve and relocate the bees were possible without compromising the bee population.

Bees are more of a problem during spring and summer, when they swarm seeking to establish a new hive and find shelter in or around your home. Hives can be inside a wall cavity accessed via an entry point, which could be a hole in the mortar of brick walls, in ventilation and under tiles on roofs, in chimneys etc. or in a garden tree or shed.

If there is a nest close by you may find you will have lots of bees hanging around, especially if you have a pool or water that has collected in small puddles. Bees collect water to take back to the hive as this helps control the hive temperature. Bees looking for water will come and go from your home where as a swarm of bees will hang round in a large group and usually settle in a cluster.

While bees are social insects there are some species, which will become aggressive and sting to protect their hive. Normally bees sting people when stepped on leant on or when being picked off clothing. The Honey Bee stings are barbed and stick in your skin when stung, tearing away from the bee, which in turn kills the bee.

If you come across a bee hive do not disturbed it, avoid walking within the bees flight path as this can aggravate them, as will fast and jerky movements near the hive. Bees along with wasps are best left to their own devices. If a hive in your home is a problem remember treating bees yourself can be dangerous and it is recommended you contact us to safely resolve the problem.

Fleas

Fleas are light brown to mahogany in colour and roughly oval shaped. Their laterally flattened appearance enables them to quickly move through the host's hair. Measuring 2-8 mm in length, the adults are entirely covered with a series of bristles and combs that assists them in clinging to the host. The small head is equipped with sawing and sucking mouthparts, and two tiny simple eyes. To aid in the detection of a host, fleas possess two short antennae on the head that are sensitive to stimuli including heat, vibration, traces of carbon dioxide and change in air currents and shadows. The hind pair of legs that are well developed for jumping enable fleas to be propelled 10-30cms, either to make contact with a host or avoid a threatening situation.

Flea Control

Treatment by Shire Pest Control technicians for flea control includes spraying all floor areas with environmentally friendly and sustainable insecticidal spray, and all exterior grounds for example, lawns, pathways, decking etc.

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